Gerry McKenna, who stepped down from his role as the vice-chancellor of the University of Ulster following an investigation into his conduct, is due to return to work next week.

Today the university remained tight-lipped in the face of continuing questions about what he would actually be doing and whether his £193,454 salary would be reduced for the coming year before his retirement in 2006.

The ongoing row is a distraction for the university at a time when it might hope to take advantage of the IRA's end to hostilities in Northern Ireland and boost student recruitment. Ulster already has a large number of students from the Republic of Ireland but few from mainland Britain.

Professor McKenna will be rejoining the university after eight months absence on sick leave and sabbatical as president, an ambassadorial role to promote alumni relations to which he agreed with the governing body.

An inquiry by the former parliamentary ombudsman Sir Michael Buckley found there was a case to answer over whistleblowers' complaints that his conduct had been impaired by alcohol during meetings, he had treated staff harshly and there had been lax financial controls.

The allegations were never put to a tribunal or proved one way or the other. Professor McKenna agreed to accept the role of president after negotiations with the governing body.

Questions from the Belfast Telegraph, which broke the story, and the East Antrim MP, Sammy Wilson, about the former vice-chancellor's position have been stonewalled by the university, which said his role would be the subject of a "detailed business plan to be developed by Professor McKenna in conjunction with senior members of the university".

Mr Wilson told the newspaper: "I get the impression the university think they've got off scot-free with this. They think they can just draw a line under this and get back to normal.

"The fact is that you have a fairly damning report and not only do they keep him on, when you try to find out under what circumstances he is coming back, they keep it under wrap," he added. Yesterday, in an editorial, the Belfast Telegraph called for more transparency on the part of the university, which took legal action to try to prevent it revealing the findings of Sir Michael's investigation.

Secondly, the newspaper said there was the issue of accountability. "Who was responsible for giving Professor McKenna a 15% increase and extending his contract, just months before he took sick leave followed by a sabbatical? And how was the deal arrived at that has provided him with an important role as the university's ambassador?"